Box column assembly

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for assisting in weld assembling a box column from a tack-welded pre-assembly of planar plate components. The apparatus features (1) an elongate frame defining a rotational-assembly axis, and (2) plural pre-assembly-receiving, rotational support structures mounted at spaced locations on the frame—each support structure including (a) an openable/closable yoke possessing a collar-reception zone, (b) an openable/closable collar rotatably receivable within this reception zone, and possessing a central throughpassage having a cross-sectional configuration which is larger than that of a box-column which is to be assembled, and (c) a pair of removably-collar-attachable, throughpassage clamping shoes for forming cooperatively, within the collar throughpassage, a window for complementarily, receiving extension therethrough of a box-column pre-assembly&#39;s cross section. A so received pre-assembly is rotatable about the rotational-assembly axis to position the existing seams of adjacency between the pre-assembly plate components for full-strength welding by an automated, traveling welding instrumentality.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/618,925, filed Feb. 10, 2015, which is a continuation application ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/459,134, filed Apr. 28, 2012, whichclaims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/483,647, filed May 7, 2011, for “Column-Component Weld-Assembly JigApparatus and Methodology”. The complete disclosures of each applicationare hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to apparatus for assembling, by welding, fromindividual, elongate plate components, an elongate, hollow-form,rectangular-cross-section box column. For illustration purposes herein,a preferred and best-mode embodiment of the invention is described inconjunction with assembling a square-cross-section box column of thetype intended for use in a structural building frame—an applicationwherein the invention has been determined to offer particular utility.

The proposed assembly apparatus receives a pre-assembly of the elongateplate components that are to be made up into such a column—for example,a preliminarily tack-welded plate-component pre-assembly, having a long,central axis—and, employing plural (at least two), speciallyconstructed, longitudinally spaced, pre-assembly-circumsurrounding,openable/closable, rotational support closure structures, cooperativelyholds this preassembly in a generally horizontal position for selectiverotation to different, temporarily stabilized angular positions aboutits long axis for full-welding unification through robust,fill-strength, column-finishing welds that are created along theadjacent long edges of the pre-assembled components. Preferably, thoughnot necessarily, these column-finishing welds are performed by anautomated, essentially continuously traveling welding instrumentalitywhich moves along the lengths of the preassembled plate components in amanner uniquely unimpeded, and freely accommodated, by the rotationalsupport structures that form parts of the assembly apparatus. Travelclearance for welding-instrumentality movement successively past therotational support closure structures is accomplished, according to theinvention, by a permitted “opening” of selected portions of the closurestructures—an action which is accomplished without compromising in anyway configurationally stable continuous supporting of the pre-assemblycomponents.

In such an arrangement, it is, of course, important that thepre-assembly components be supported with assured configurationalstability during the full-welding-assembly procedure. It is alsoimportant that these components, in their pre-assembled form, and duringwelding, (a) be rotatable as a unit about what will become, when fullwelding assembly is completed, and what already effectively is in thecomponent pre-assembly condition, the resulting assembled-column's longaxis, so as to accommodate the easy forming and development of therequired elongate, inter-component welds along the entire length of thepre-assembly, and (b) be supported in a manner which permits anautomatic, or hand-operated, traveling welding instrumentality to move,preferably with non-stop continuity, past the rotational support closurestructures which support the preassembled components during the process.Such rotation during welding helps, inter alia, to balance and minimizepotential heat-induced warping distortion.

In order to enable the practice of accommodating non-stop continuitywelding, the rotational support closure structures are specially formedso as to be selectively partially openable without disturbing therequired maintenance of the stable positional relationships that havebeen established between the pre-assembly components.

In this context, and from one point of view of the invention, itsproposed apparatus features (1) an elongate, substantially horizontalframe possessing a substantially horizontal, rotational-assembly axis,(2) at least a pair of box-column pre-assembly rotational supportstructures, or rotational support closure structures, mounted at spacedlocations on the frame, designed to receive, and to furnish support forrotation about the rotational-assembly axis for, such a pre-assembly.Each support structure includes, in respective conditions operativelycentered on the apparatus' rotational-assembly axis, (a) anopenable/closable, dual-section yoke defining an openable/closable,generally circular, collar-reception zone which, with the yoke closed,is circular in configuration, (b) an openable/closable, dual-sectioncollar, which is circular in perimetral outline when closed, andremovably receivable, and rotatable effectively, within the yoke'scircular collar-reception zone, this collar, when closed, possessing acentral, non-rectangular throughpassage which is defined by a first pairof opposite, straight-angle sides, and a second pair of opposite,outwardly-directed obtuse-angle sides, opening of the collar splitting,and opening up, its throughpassage, along a line connecting the verticesof its obtuse-angle sides, into two, equal and matching-configuration,wedge-shaped troughs, and (c) a pair of removably collar-attachable,double-wedge clamping shoes, one for each obtuse-angle side of thethroughpassage, these shoes, when attached to the collar, and with thecollar closed, forming, in cooperation with the collar'sthroughpassage's straight-angle sides, a rectangular-outline window forconfinedly, and complementarily, receiving extension therethrough of therectangular-cross-section of a box-column pre-assembly in a conditionwith the pre-assembly's long, central axis substantially coincident withthe apparatus' rotational-assembly axis.

This apparatus is designed specifically to handle such a pre-assembly ofplate components having, in the pre-assembly, long, lateral, parallel,edges that define, collectively, plural, elongate, parallel,inter-plate-component, weld-awaiting interface seams, or valleys, andthe yokes and collars are respectively configured whereby openingthereof is effective to expose, in a manner facing upwardly toaccommodate welding access, a pair of such seams. As will be seen, eachsection in each dual-section yoke possesses at least a portion which isgenerally arcuate and semicircular in configuration, and in fact one ofthe two sections in each yoke is essentially entirely arcuate andsemicircular in overall configuration. Somewhat similarly, each of thetwo sections in each dual-section collar is essentially entirely arcuateand semicircular in overall configuration. Further, each yoke and collaris structured to promote, during box-column assembling, cooperativeopenings thereof about, or very near, a particular, substantiallyhorizontal plane disposed above the underlying frame.

Operatively associated with, and straddling, the frame in the apparatusof the invention is a basically conventional, traveling weldinginstrumentality having a pair of laterally spaced welding heads disposedappropriately above the frame, and an elongate track supporting thewelding instrumentality for movement along a travel path paralleling theapparatus-included rotational-assembly axis, and for thereby guiding thewelding heads along laterally spaced welding paths that are disposed,respectively, immediately overhead, and parallel to, any open-yoke andopen-collar, upwardly exposed interface seams in any pre-assembly thensupported by the rotational support structures.

These and other features and advantages that are offered by theinvention will become more fully apparent as the detailed descriptionthereof which follows below is read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view, fragmentary in nature, generallyillustrating the apparatus of the present invention designed forpromoting the weld assembling of an elongate, structural-building-framebox column from a pre-assembly of elongate, adjacent, planar platecomponents. This figure includes an illustration of a typical,square-cross-section box-column pre-assembly stably supported in placein the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged-scale, view, taken generally along thelines 2-2 in FIG. 1, showing certain details of a rotational supportstructure constructed in accordance with the present invention toinclude, as will be described below, (a) an openable/closable,dual-section, split-structure yoke, (b) an openable/closable,dual-section, split-structure, rotatable collar received for rotationwithin the yoke, and a pair of removably-collar-attachable,double-wedge, centrally located, laterally spaced clamping shoes. Aportion of the structure shown in this figure has been broken away toillustrate certain aspects of internal construction.

This drawing figure also illustrates, in an axial, cross-sectional view,the same elongate, square-cross-section, box-column pre-assembly whichis shown in FIG. 1 received within a generally complementarily shapedwindow—i.e., a window whose perimetral outline is, effectively,complementary with respect to the cross-sectional configuration of theillustrated box-column pre-assembly—this window being formed/defined inthe pictured rotational support structure by structural andconfigurational collaboration between the illustrated collar andclamping shoes.

FIG. 3 is a same-scale, fragmentary side elevation taken generally fromthe right side of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a downward looking, cross-sectional view taken generally alongthe lines 4-4 in FIG. 2, drawn on a somewhat larger scale than that usedin FIG. 2.

FIG. 5, which is drawn on a scale that is slightly smaller than thescale employed in FIGS. 2 and 3, is an exploded, isometric view of therotational support structure illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, inclusive,presented in a condition isolated and removed from the frame in theapparatus of the invention. In this exploded view, a yoke and a collarin the pictured rotational support structure are shown in openconditions, i.e., with their respective upper and lower, selectivelyseparable sections seen vertically separated.

FIG. 6, on a slightly larger scale, is somewhat similar to the lowerportion of FIG. 5, here presenting a partial view of the rotationalsupport structure of FIGS. 2-5, inclusive, with one clamping shoe shownin place relative both to the lower section of the illustrated collar,and to the box-column pre-assembly mentioned above (here shownfragmentarily in dash-double-dot lines), much as that shoe is picturedin FIG. 2, and the other clamping shoe shown about to be put similarlyinto place.

FIG. 7 is a large-scale endo, long-axial view illustrating one form(i.e., the same form as is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive) of acompleted, i.e., fully and finally weld-assembled,structural-building-frame box column which has been assembled utilizingthe apparatus of FIGS. 1-6, inclusive. This illustration specificallyrelates to the box-column pre-assembly shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings, and referring first of all to FIG. 1,indicated generally at 20 is a preferred-embodiment, and best-mode form,of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention forpromoting the weld-assembling of an elongate, structural-building-framebox column from a rectangular-cross-section pre-assembly of elongate,adjacent, planar plate components. While apparatus 20 may be employedfor the weld-assembling of structural-building-frame box columns havingdifferent kinds of rectangular cross sections, apparatus 20 herein isillustrated and described specifically for weld-assembling a box columnhaving a square cross section.

Adding attention for a moment to FIGS. 2 and 3 along with FIG. 1, anillustrative box-column pre-assembly of what are referred to herein aselongate, adjacent, planar plate components is shown generally at 22. Itincludes four, substantially equal-size plate components 22 a, 22 b, 22c, 22 d which, in pre-assembly 22, have been tack-welded into anappropriate, square-cross-section (also referred to generally as arectangular-cross-section), box-column configuration through a pluralityof small, internal tack-welded blocks, such as those shown at 24 in FIG.2. Pre-assembly 22 includes a long, central axis 22 e which is tobecome, eventually, the long, central axis of a finally assembled boxcolumn fabricated in accordance with practice of the invention utilizingapparatus 20. Pre-assembly 22 herein has a length of about 60-feet, andequal lateral dimensions, determined by the widths of the four, includedplate components, of about 16-inches.

The plate components which make up pre-assembly 22 have laterallyspaced, elongate, lateral edges, pairs of which, respectingright-angularly-adjacent plate components in the pre-assembly, lieparallel to and immediately adjacent one another to define, collectivelyin the pre-assembly, what are referred to herein as plural, elongate,parallel, inter-plate-component, weld-awaiting interface seams whichtake the form of elongate, weld-awaiting valleys, such as the twovalleys shown generally at 26 in FIG. 2. As can be seen particularlywell in the axial view of the pre-assembly presented in FIG. 2, thesevalleys exist by virtue of the existences of the chamfered lateral edgesthat are provided in plate components 22 a, 22 c. As will becomeapparent, in the employment of apparatus 20 during final fullwelding-assembly of a box column, adjacent pairs of these seams, such asthe two seams that are specifically labeled 26 in FIG. 2, and as will beexplained below herein, are preferably simultaneously welded. The terms“seam” and “valley” will be employed hereinafter interchangeably.

While a specific box-column pre-assembly, formed by a particularapproach to tack-welding, is illustrated, and has just been described,herein, it should be understood that any appropriate form of generallystabilized pre-assembly formation modality is certainly employable. Itshould also be understood that different box-column sizes may readily befabricated in accordance with the present invention simply by changingcertain obvious structural parameters present in apparatus 20. Forexample, a box column which has a rectangular, but not-square, crosssection may easily be fabricated. The detailed apparatus-componentrydescription which follows below will make readily evident to thoseskilled in the art just how to accommodate box-column size andconfiguration variations.

Apparatus 20 includes an elongate, substantially horizontal frame 28, ofsuitable design, which is appropriately supported on, for exampleanchored to, the floor of a factory, such as the factory floor which isshown fragmentarily at 30 in FIG. 1. Frame 28, whose details may beconventional, and not specifically important in relation to the inventedfeatures of apparatus 20, possesses a long, substantially horizontalaxis 28 a. While different, specific length-accommodating aspects ofapparatus 20 are, of course, possible, at least in terms of the lengthof frame 28, in the apparatus now being described, frame 28 has anoverall length of somewhat more than about 60-feet, and repositionablymounted on it are eight rotational support structures, only four ofwhich are pictured herein in FIG. 1, spaced apart by about 8-footintervals.

Importantly, and operatively, associated in apparatus 20 with, anddisposed above, frame 28 is an elongate, substantially horizontal,rotational-assembly axis 32 which parallels frame axis 28 a. It is inrelation to axis 32 in apparatus 20, an axis which is effectivelydefined collaboratively by plural rotational support structures (andspecifically by these structures' yokes and yokes-carried rotationalcollars) described immediately below, that rotational weld-assembling ofa box column, from a box-column pre-assembly, such as from pre-assembly22, is performed. It for this reason that, in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive, axes22 e, 32 are shown as being coincident.

Continuing with attention directed especially to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3,included in apparatus 20 are plural—at least two—rotational supportstructures (or rotational support closure structures as just mentionedabove), such as the four such structures shown at 34, 35, 36, 38, whichare repositionably mounted in any suitable manner on, and distributed inspaced relationship along, and extending upwardly from, frame 28.Structures 34, 38 are shown with their included yoke and collarstructures (soon to be described) in closed conditions stably supportingpre-assembly 22. Structure 35 is shown in an open condition with all ofits components visible in FIG. 1, i.e., in a condition about to beclosed, or in a condition having just been opened. Structure 36 is shownin an open condition with its upper components removed from FIG. 1—acondition relevant to its preparing to accept for support a box-columnpre-assembly, or to release and permit removal of a full-weld-completedbox column. As mentioned, these rotational support structures definerotational-assembly axis 32.

The repositionability of these rotational support structures, whichherein are spaced apart representationally by the above-mentioneddistance of about 8-feet, is relevant to allowing one using apparatus 20to locate these structures at what are considered by that user to be themost appropriate, box-column pre-assembly support locations for abox-column assembly procedure (still to be described). It will beunderstood that, while at least two of these rotational supportstructures will be required for any box-column assembly operation, anyappropriate number greater than two, as determined by the apparatususer, may be employed. The 8-foot spacings just mentioned above betweenstructures 34, 35, 36, 38 are merely illustrative herein. Other specificspacings, including dissimilar, successive spacings, may be determinedto be more suitable for certain assembly procedures. The 8-foot spacingspresent in apparatus 20 are quite suitable to the box-column assemblymodality which will be described shortly. Repositionable mounting onframe 28 for the rotational support structures is accommodated readilyby (a) the conventional furnishing of appropriately, longitudinallydistributed mounting locations in frame 28, and (b) by the availabilityof appropriate “matching” mounting “sites”, such as throughbores, thatare provided adjacent the bases of the rotational support structures.

These rotational support structures, with their several includedcomponents which will be described in greater detail shortly, play therole of supporting an elongate box-column pre-assembly in a stablysupported condition, and for selected rotation about rotational-assemblyaxis 32 in a manner holding a plate-component pre-assembly in proper,selected, rotated orientations to allow for ready and convenientfull-strength welding to take place, preferably in a longitudinallycontinuous manner, along the length of the pre-assembly respecting theseams between adjacent plate components. As will become apparent, and aswill shortly be more fully explained, these rotational supportstructures are openable/closable structures, upper portions of therespective componentry sections (dual sections) in which may be removedand lifted relative to, and effectively and just generally about, asubstantially horizontal plane 39 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), by lifting andremoval to expose what is then the then upper side of a there-supportedbox-column pre-assembly for clear and unobstructed movement, preferablycontinuously, of a pair of welding heads along the pre-assembly, withoutthere occurring any interference of such motion from any portion of arotational support structure. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and. 3, plane 39is shown effectively containing illustrated axes 22 e, 32.

Generally speaking, included in each rotational support structure, suchas within representative rotational support structure 34 which ispictured in detail in FIGS. 2-6, inclusive, and recognizing that theseveral, illustrated rotational support structures are identical inconstruction, are what is referred to as an openable/closable,dual-section, split-structure yoke, or yoke assembly, 40, and, receivedand supported rotatably within a circular, collar-reception zone 40 a inthis yoke (see especially FIGS. 2 and 5), for selective, reversiblerotation within that zone about rotational-assembly axis 32, is what isreferred to herein as an openable/closable, dual-section,split-structure collar, or collar assembly, 42 which is circular inperimetral outline to fit rotatably properly within circular yoke zone40 a. Selective, reversible rotation of the collars, such as collar 42,is illustrated by double-headed, curved arrow 43 in FIG. 1

Still speaking in somewhat general terms, each collar, such as collar42, when in its closed condition (as is illustrated especially well inFIG. 2 for collar 42), possesses, importantly, a central, non-square,non-rectangular throughpassage, such as throughpassage 44 which isindicated in FIG. 2—this throughpassage being defined by (a) what arereferred to herein as opposed (and facing one another), spaced,substantially parallel, straight-angle sides, such as sides 44 a, 44 b,and by (b) a pair of spaced (and facing one another), opposed,obtuse-angle sides, such as sides 44 c, 44 d.

The two obtuse-angle sides 44 c, 44 d in throughpassage 44, eachpossessing a “central” obtuse angle α of about 170-degrees, are referredto herein as being outwardly directed, for the reason that the angularapices in these two sides, which apices are shown at 44 c ₁, 44 d ₁,respectively, in FIG. 2, point in opposite directions, laterallyoutwardly and away from the throughpassage. It will be noticedparticularly FIG. 2 that, in the specific conditions shown therein forthe componentry in rotational support structure 34, these two,obtuse-angle-side apices essentially lie within previously mentionedplane 39—a fabrication (full welding)-relevant condition which ishelpful, as will become apparent, during employment of apparatus 20 inthe implementation of full-welding assembly of a box column from abox-column pre-assembly, and very specifically under circumstanceswhere, as appropriate and required, the relevant rotational supportstructure has been opened relative to plane 39 to allow for unimpededwelding-head travel past the location of that rotational supportstructure. As will also become apparent, and as can be seen clearly inFIG. 2, there are two rotated (about axis 32) conditions, 180-degreesapart, wherein this same, apices-positional “condition” exists.

With regard to the sizing illustrated in FIG. 2 for a throughpassage 44herein, it will be observed that the spacing which exists betweenthroughpassage, straight-angle sides 44 a, 44 b, and more specificallythe spacing which exists between the small, opposing-facing (i.e.,opposing from opposite sides 44 a, 44 b), flat-surfaces that are presentin the slight, island-like projections included adjacent oppositelateral ends in those sides, two of such “same-side” projections beingshown at 46 in throughpassage side 44 a, under circumstances with collar42 closed as shown, is essentially the same as the intendedcross-sectional lateral dimension of a received box-column pre-assembly,such as that of pre-assembly 22. The opposing projections 46 which areformed on the two sections (upper and lower as illustrated in thedrawings herein) in the collars, such as in collar 42, apply a slightstabilizing clamping pressure on opposite sides of a receivedpre-assembly.

By way of contrast, however, the spacing which exists between the twoobtuse-angle sides of a throughpassage, as can be seen for sides 44 c,44 d in throughpassage 44 in FIG. 2, is considerably greater than theintended cross-sectional lateral dimension of a received box-columnpre-assembly, such as pre-assembly 22. The reason for this is to allowfor easy insertion for processing of a box-column pre-assembly, and forlater easy removal of a finished box column. In connection with thisconsideration regarding placement and removal of box-columncomponentry—both pre-assembly, and finished—within the throughpassagesfurnished in the collars received within the rotational supportstructures, those collar portions of each throughpassage which lierespectively on opposite sides of a line, or plane, passing through theapices in the obtuse-angle sides of the throughpassages are referred toherein as wedge-shaped troughs 47 (see particularly FIGS. 5 and 6).

Further included in each rotational support structure, such as withinrotational support structure 34, are two collar-attachable, double-wedgeclamping shoes, such as the two such shoes shown variously at 48, 50 inFIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6. As can be seen in FIGS. 2-6, inclusive, these twoclamping shoes, which are shown variously in these figures in conditionsboth releasably pinned, and releasably pinable, by manually manipulabledetent pins 51, appropriately to the two sections still to be describedin collar 42, include outer sides which are formed with essentially thesame obtuse-angle shape which is been described above existing inthroughpassage sides 44 c, 44 d, and inner, spaced, inwardly facingstraight-angle sides, adjacent opposite lateral ends of which are formedsmall, flat-surfaced, island-like projections, such as the projectionsshown in FIGS. 5 and 6 at 52 in shoe 48. With shoes, such as shoes 48,50, in conditions collar-attached, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, it will beevident that these clamping shoes effectively create, cooperatively withthroughpassage straight-angle sides 44 a, 44 b, a generallysquare-cross-section, i.e., rectangular-outline, window (a corner ofwhich is indicated by two, arrow-headed lines at 53 in FIG. 2) which,because of the presences of projections 46, 52, closes generallycomplementarily and confinedly around the cross-sectional configurationof a throughpassage-received box-column pre-assembly, such aspre-assembly 22.

Completing now a general, overall description of apparatus 20, includedin the particular form and embodiment of this apparatus which isillustrated and described herein is an appropriately motor-driven,frame-28-straddling, traveling welding instrumentality which is showngenerally in block form at 54 in FIG. 1. Instrumentality 54 which, asmentioned above, is generally conventional in construction, includesappropriate, vertical, leg-support structure 54 a which supports itsmain body 54 b immediately overhead frame 28 and above the rotationalsupport structures mounted on that frame. Leg-support structure 54 aspecifically supports the entire welding instrumentality for movementreversibly (as indicated by a broad, double-headed arrow 55) along thelength of frame 28 on suitable, elongate, frame-adjacent, linear tracks,or trackage, which tracks are represented schematically, andfragmentarily, by paired, dash—double-dot lines 56 in FIG. 1, and whichtracks parallel frame axis 28 a. Appropriate, and entirely conventional,track-traveling-and-engaging structure, such as non-illustrated wheels,is furnished appropriately adjacent the base of the leg-supportstructure to engage and ride on and along tracks 56.

Welding instrumentality 54 includes a pair of laterally spaced,conventional welding heads shown schematically at 54 c, 54 d in FIG. 1.Heads 54 c, 54 d are downwardly directed, and occupy verticaldispositions in the instrumentality, whereby their operational welding“ends” follow, and travel along, with movement the instrumentality, thetwo, laterally spaced paths shown by small cross marks 58, 60,respectively in FIG. 2, and by similarly labeled, dash-dot lines,respectively, in FIGS. 1 and 3. Paths 58, 60 extend overhead therotational support structures, paralleling previously mentionedapparatus-associated axes 28 a, 32, and specifically extend in elongatelocations permitting full-assembly welding along upwardly exposed,adjacent-plate-component weld-awaiting interface seams, such as thepreviously mentioned seams 26 pictured in FIG. 2.

As was mentioned earlier herein, preferably, though not necessarily,substantially fully automated welding is performed in apparatus 20during box-column assembly, and in conjunction with this preference,welding instrumentality 54 is operated principally under the control ofa suitably algorithmically programmed, on-board digital computer, suchas that which is represented in FIG. 1, schematically in dashed-outlineblock form, at 62. It should be understood, in this context of weldingimplementation, that, while automated-computer-controlled welding is apreference, a traveling welding instrumentality somewhat likeinstrumentality 54 could be employed in a manner operated by manual,rather than by computer, control, and further, that welding could alsobe performed, if desired, entirely by a hand-welding operation.Naturally, when computer automated welding is initiated utilizinginstrumentality 54, appropriate ones, in an appropriate “successionorder”, of the rotational support assemblies are opened to allow forcontinuous-action welding clearance and access to a supported box-columnpre-assembly. In apparatus 20 as it is illustrated herein, such openingof the rotational support structures is performed as a manual operation.

Directing attention now to FIGS. 2-6, inclusive, and considering thespecific, preferred constructions of the various components that make upthe rotational support structures, such as rotational support structure34, these several figures essentially show, in great detail, and withoutrequiring much companion descriptive text in order fully to inform thosewho are skilled in the relevant art how to build such a structure, both(a) the individual, preferred details of the constructions of the yoke,the collar and the clamping shoes in this support structure, and as well(b), tangentially associated other structural features that areoperative collaboratively in each support structure.

With specific reference to rotational support structure 34, andbeginning with a further discussion about yoke 40 which is structurallyfully representative of the yokes included in each of the otherrotational support structures, yoke 40 which, as was already mentioned,is a dual-section, split-structure assembly, possesses upper and lowersections 64, 66, respectively. Lower section 66, which includes,anchored to and rising from a horizontal foot plate 68, two, spaced,confronting and substantially matching-configuration plates 66 a, 66 b,effectively constitutes the base of yoke 40. The earlier-mentioned,generally arcuate and semicircular portion of lower yoke section 66 isvery evident, and is marked at 66 c in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6. Foot plate 68in lower, base section 66 accommodates repositionable mounting of yoke40, as desired, on apparatus frame 28.

Disposed appropriately between plates 66 a, 66 b are suitable spacerblocks, such as the blocks shown at 70 in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6, andconventionally journaled for free rotation about respective horizontalaxes on trans-plate-extending axles that extend between plates 66 a, 66b are plural, flanged, idler rollers, such as rollers 72, that aredistributed along the arcuate portion of section 66, as shown. Therotational axes furnished for these idler rollers parallel previouslymentioned axes 28 a, 32 when yoke 40 is appropriately mounted on frame28. The flanges in rollers 72 effectively longitudinally “receive andcapture” the perimetral edge of collar 42 when that collar is received,and resides for rotation, within the collar-reception zone, 40 a, inyoke 40, and rollers 72 in lower yoke section 66 serve to define thelower, semicircular half 40 a ₁ of reception zone 40 a (see FIGS. 2 and4-6, inclusive).

It will be apparent that a collar, such as collar 42, when closed andreceived simply within this just-mentioned lower half of thecollar-reception zone in yoke 40, even with the yoke in an opencondition, such as is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 for the yoke, will beseated appropriately on rollers 72 in a manner permitting, if and whendesired, free rotation of the collar on those rollers aboutrotational-assembly axis 32.

The two, laterally spaced, upwardly extending reaches 66 d, 66 e of thearcuate portion of lower yoke section 66 are through-apertured, asshown, to enable nut-and-bolt attachment thereto, between plates 66 a,66 b, of a pair of laterally spaced, suitably, matchingly aperturedblocks 74 (see FIGS. 2 and 5) which are used, as will be explainedbetween yoke sections 64, 66, to accommodate bolted detachableattachment of upper yoke section 64 to lower yoke section 66. It is thisbolt-attachment/detachment structure which is thus employed to enableselective opening and closing of a yoke, such as yoke 40. While suchseparating of the upper and lower yoke sections in order to accommodateopening and closing of the yoke is said to take place relative to andabout previously mentioned horizontal plane 39, the upper and lower yokesections, in the specific structural yoke configuration which is nowbeing described, actually separate along a line or plane which is veryclosely adjacent (slightly above), but not necessarily absolutelycoincident with, plane 39.

Functionally associated with lower yoke section 66, on opposite lateralsides of that section, and in further association with the upper, two,illustrated blocks 70, are lever-actuated, construction-evident,in-and-out anti-collar-rotation latch-pin structures 76 which aresuitably mounted in place with respect to these just-mentioned, two,upper blocks 70 to enable the selective driving in and pulling out ofincluded, elongate, cylindrical, axially shiftable latch pins 76 awhich, under manual control, shift, reversibly as illustrated bydouble-headed arrows 77, into and out of appropriate receiving bores(shortly to be described) that are distributed angularly (herein at45-degree angular spacings) about the perimeter of collar 42 to enableselective locking (latching), against rotation, of that collar indifferent angular dispositions about axis 32, and, of course unlatchingwhen desired.

Upper yoke section 64 includes two, spaced, confronting andsubstantially matching-configuration plates 64 a, 64 b which areessentially entirely arcuate and semicircular in configuration, thusgiving this upper yoke section its mentioned, generally arcuate andsemicircular configuration which is shown generally at 64 c in FIGS. 2and 5. Suitable, upper, spacer block assemblies, such as the two suchblock assemblies shown at 78 in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, are appropriatelydisposed between plates 64 a, 64 b, and these block assemblies, 78,cooperate with previously mentioned blocks 74 in lower yoke section 66,and with vertically oriented bolts, such as those shown at 80, to enableopening and closing of yoke 40 via appropriate attachment and detachmentof upper yoke section 64 relative to lower yoke section 66.

Conventionally journaled for free rotation about respective horizontalaxes on trans-plate-extending axles that extend between plates 64 a, 64b are plural, flanged, idler rollers, such as rollers 82, that aredistributed along the arcuate configuration of section 64 as shown. Therotational axes furnished for these upper-yoke-section rollers parallelpreviously mentioned axes 28 a, 32 when yoke 40 is closed andappropriately mounted on frame 28. The flanges in rollers 82 effectivelylongitudinally “receive and capture” the perimetral edge of collar 42when that collar is received, and resides for rotation, withincollar-reception zone 40 a in yoke 40, and these rollers, 82, in theupper yoke section serve to define the upper, semicircular half 40 a 2of circular collar-reception zone 40 a.

Continuing with a description of rotational support structure 34,dual-section, split-structure collar 42 includes upper and lowersections 84, 86, respectively. Uses herein of the terms “upper” and“lower” in relation to collar 42 are uses that pertain to theparticular, angular, rotational dispositions of collar 42, and of theother collars, as it (and they) are specifically picturedrepresentationally in the drawings. As can clearly be seen in therelevant drawings, each of these collar sections, which sections areessentially identical in construction, has a generally arcuate andsemicircular configuration, and is formed of three, identical, suitablyface-to-face joined plates, such as plates 88, 90, 92 which arereference-numeral-marked in upper collar section 84 in FIG. 5. As canalso be seen, one end of each of these plates has a generally concaveedge profile, such as the illustrative concave edge profile shown at 88a in FIG. 5 for plate 88, and the opposite end, a generally convex edgeprofile, such as the convex edge profile shown at 88 b also in FIG. 5for plate 88. The plates are assembled into the two collar sections insuch a manner that central plate 90 is reversed, end-to-end, inorientation relative to the two outer plates, 88, 92. A result of thisend-to-end, reversal arrangement is that the opposite ends of thecollar-section assemblies of plates exist with one end effectivelyincluding a slot between the ends of the outer, two plates, and theother end effectively including a projecting, central-plate-end tab,which, as can be seen clearly in the exploded view presented in FIG. 5,allows for tab and slot end-to-end-fitment uniting of the upper andlower collar sections to close the collar. Conventional, manuallymanipulable detent pins 94 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) cooperate with suitableaccommodating throughbores in the collar sections, such as thethroughbores shown at 96 (see FIG. 5), to enable coupling and decouplingof the two collar sections.

Formed, as by drilling, radially into the perimeter of collar 42 areplural, cylindrical sockets 99 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) sized appropriatelyto receive the latch pins, 76 a, that are present in anti-rotationlatch-pin structures 76. In the collar structure which is now beingdescribed, sockets 99, of which there are eight in all, are located (asmentioned earlier herein) at 45-degree angular intervals around thecollar, although only four of them, at 90-degree, quadrature intervals(and two of them only at a time—at 180-degree intervals) are employedspecifically during welding assembly of a box column to effectanti-rotation locking of a collar, and thus rotational stabilizing of areceived and held box-column pre-assembly. The additional sockets areonly tangential to the present invention. They are provided, forexample, simply as a special convenience to enable support apparatus 20,if desired, to be employed, in a modified manner not involving thepresent invention, to assist in column-angular-rotational-positionweld-attaching of various, potentially to be employed, external,column-side components, such as the two, different styles ofcolumn-to-beam, interconnect-promoting components illustrated,described, and discussed as being weld-attachment-handled, in thestructural building frame environments described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,621,099, and 7,941,985, the entire disclosure contents of whichpatents are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Completing a description of rotational support structure 34, included,as has been mentioned, within this structure, for removable fitment andattachment by previously identified, manually manipulable detent pins51, adjacent the obtuse-angle sides, 44 c, 44 d of, and within,collar-defined, non-rectangular throughpassage 44, are the two,previously mentioned, double-wedge clamping shoes 48, 50. The commonconfigurations of these two clamping shoes, and their sizes relative tothe sizes of these obtuse-angle throughpassage sides, are quite evidentfrom the drawings.

When these two shoes are appropriately “pinned” in place by detent pins51 within throughpassage 44, individually to each of collar sections 84,86, they define, collectively with straight-angle sides 44 a, 44 b inthe throughpassage, the previously mentioned, generallysquare-cross-section capturing and confining window 53, one definedcorner in which, as was earlier pointed out, is marked 53 in FIG. 2, forstably supporting, with slight clamping pressure, a box-columnpre-assembly which extends through this window. The square cross-sectionwindow thus present is defined, very specifically, by the inwardlyfacing (generally toward rotational-assembly axis 32), small, flatsurfaces (previously mentioned) included in projections 46 provided inthe two collar sections, and in projections 52 provided in the shoes.

When the shoes are disengaged from the throughpassage, such beingenabled by removal of detent pins 51, their disengagement exposes thefull lateral dimensions of the previously mentioned wedge shaped troughs47 to allow for easy insertion of a box-column pre-assembly, and laterremoval of a finished and finally fully weld-assembled box column.Attaching of these shoes to the collar sections in the collar via pins51 takes place via insertion of these pins alignedly through previouslymentioned throughbores 96 (see again particularly FIG. 5) provided inthe collar sections, and through the throughbores pictured (but notspecifically labeled) in the illustrated, short, laterally outwardlyextending tabs that are seen (particularly in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6) attachedto shoes 48, 50.

Describing now typical preparation and use of the apparatus of theinvention, such as apparatus 20, a decision is first made regarding thesize and cross-sectional character of a box column which is to beassembled. For example, where the intended box-column is to be typicalof those that are employed in the most usual structural building frames,it will have (1) a square cross section of certain, predetermined,outside, lateral transverse dimensions, such as the 16-inch dimensionmentioned earlier herein, and (2) a certain length, such as theearlier-mentioned 60-foot length. With respect to the intended,box-column, cross-sectional configuration, it will, of course, beimportant that the troughs 47 that are formed in therotational-support-structure collars in apparatus 20 be shapedappropriately so that when they (the troughs) are upwardly facing andopen, (a) they will each make a presentation like that which is shown inFIG. 1 for the there pictured, lower collar section of the collar inrotational support structure 36, and in FIG. 6 for the single trough 47seen in this figure, and (b) will possess a lateral width effectivelybetween their angularly outwardly splayed, opposite, obtuse-angle sideswhich will readily and freely accommodate easy placement of a box-columnpre-assembly in them. Such “formation” of the collars to accommodate aparticular style (i.e., cross section) of an intended box column and itsassociated pre-assembly is referred to hereinbelow as “collar sizing”.

The frame in apparatus 20, naturally, must have an appropriate length,as must also the travel trackage provided along the frame for thetraveling welding instrumentality which, initially, i.e., before thestart of a weld-assembling operation, will be located appropriatelyadjacent one end of the apparatus frame, such as frame 28.

As was mentioned earlier herein, and as has just been suggested withrespect to preliminary choices, it will usually be the case that anintended-to-be-assembled box column will have a square cross section,such as the square cross section which is shown herein forrepresentative box column 22. If some special, cross-sectionalrectangular shape which is non-square is to be assembled, theto-be-employed troughs' lateral dimensions will preferably be chosen tohave widths slightly greater than the larger of the two lateralcross-sectional dimensions of such a column.

Another preliminary consideration involves determining where, and withwhat intervals, along the length of the apparatus frame, such as frame28, to position, and then anchor in place, the rotational supportassemblies (at least two) that are to be used.

With these preliminary apparatus-preparations taken into account,“correctly collar-sized” rotational support structures, in the selectednumber of them that are to be used, are mounted on the frame at theselected interval locations therealong, and the yokes and collars in allare opened, with the collars arranged so that their respective,“remaining-in-place”, lower collar sections are disposed with troughs 47facing straight up—open and exposed. All clamping shoes are removed soas fully to expose the splayed, angular widths of the troughs. Theanti-rotation latch-pin structures are operated to lock the lower collarsections against rotation in the lower yoke sections.

A box-column pre-assembly, of the appropriate size is lowered into theupwardly facing, open troughs, preferably initially with a pair if seams26 facing upwardly as in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the clamping shoes arereturned, and initially partially reattached by detent pinning to thelower collar sections.

The presences of these now reattached clamping shoes, even without thepresences yet of the upper collar sections and the upper yoke sections,furnish slight lateral clamping pressure on opposite lateral sides of areceived box-column pre-assembly, and thus introduce desired lateralstabilization for a so-received pre-assembly.

Even now, without reclosing of the rotational support structures byreconnecting the upper collar sections and the upper yoke sections, andif it is desired that a welding-assembly operation take place underthese circumstances, this is clearly one useful mode of implementing thesupporting capability of apparatus 20. In other words, at this point intime, and with all of the yokes completely open, welding instrumentality54 may now readily be advanced along the length of apparatus 20, withtravel of this instrumentality, and operating of its two welding headssimultaneously, being suitably under the control of computer 62 toproduce full-strength welds continuously in seams 26, and in anunobstructed manner respecting progress of the instrumentality along thebox-column preassembly

Another approach, of course, is for the rotational support structures,except perhaps that one which is most closely adjacent the beginninglocation of the welding instrumentality, to be closed initially toenhance stable holding of a box-column pre-assembly, with the weldinginstrumentality then advanced, again in a generally continuous manneralong the length of the apparatus, with the appropriate, nearbyrotational support structure opened at the right time as the weldinginstrumentality approaches the location of that structure. This practicemight also involve not only successive, seriatim openings of rotationalsupport structures, but successive, seriatim closures of rotationalsupport structures which have just been passed by the weldinginstrumentality.

If it turns out that a box-column pre-assembly has initially beenlowered into position in the troughs under circumstances where two seams26 are not upwardly facing, then a typical practice will involve closureof all of the collars and yokes, and thus all of the rotational supportstructures, before any welding activity takes place, with the thencompletely length-supported preassembly first rotated aboutassembly-axis 32, and thus about its own long axis 22 e, 90-degrees soas properly to orient such seams as a necessary precursor for thebeginning of welding assembly.

When a complete, initial, singular, welding pass has been accomplished,typically (though not necessarily) all, or at least user-selected,appropriate ones, of the yokes and collars will be closed to providestable support for the still not yet complete box-column, and the entirepre-assembly will then rotated 180-degrees about axes 22 e, 32. This isdone in apparatus 20 by a hand implemented rotational operation, ofcourse, after freeing, by operations of latch-pin structures 76, of allof the collars for free rotation in the collar reception zones in theyokes, to the appropriate, new, 180-degree-adjusted, angular dispositionabout axis 32. In this new condition, anti-rotation latching again ofthe collars takes place to re-stabilize, against inadvertent rotation,the pre-assembly in its new angular orientation. This new angularorientation is one, of course, which exposes, upwardly for longitudinalwelding, the opposite pair of seams 26 n the box-column pre-assembly.

When the seams in this new, second pair of seams have been welded, acompleted box column is done, and FIG. 7 in the drawings shows suchcompletion for box column 22 which has “emerged” from its precursorbox-column pre-assembly 22. The four, full-strength finishing welds inseams 26 are shown here at 102.

The apparatus of the present invention is thus now fully described andillustrated, and several ways in which it may be used have also beendiscussed. While all of this is the case, I recognize that othervariations and modifications, in both apparatus structure, and in itsuse, may come to the minds of those skilled in the relevant art, and itis my intention that the appended claims to invention will beinterpreted with scopes which cover all such perceived variations andmodifications.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for supporting a rectangular beam structure during a welding process, comprising a longitudinal frame structure defining a rotational axis, and a plurality of yoke structures spaced from each other along the rotational axis of the frame structure, each yoke structure containing a collar member, the collar member having a circular perimeter and an internal opening shaped to conform to the rectangular beam structure, and being rotatable inside the yoke structure about the rotational axis, each yoke structure including an upper yoke section and a lower yoke section connected to a fixed base, the upper and lower yoke sections being selectively coupled to each other at opposing lateral points near a horizontal plane, and each collar member including a pair of semi-circular collar sections, wherein each collar section is rotatable between a bottom position and a top position, and removable with the upper yoke section when the collar section is in the top position to expose upper corners of a beam while the beam is supported along sides and a bottom of the beam by the lower yoke section and the other collar section in the bottom position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each yoke structure has a circular opening for receiving the respective collar.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each yoke structure has a plurality of rollers around at least part of the circular opening for permitting rotation of the respective collar inside the yoke.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower yoke section and said other collar section support the beam structure on three sides without blocking access to weld seams on a top side of the beam structure.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower yoke section and said other collar section provide lateral support to the beam structure without blocking access to weld seams on a top side of the beam structure.
 6. A system for creating a rectangular beam structure via a welding process, the system comprising a plurality of planar plate components which have been tack-welded together to form a column pre-assembly; and an apparatus for supporting the pre-assembly while the planar plate components are welded together, the apparatus including: a plurality of yoke assemblies spaced from each other along the rotational axis of the frame structure, each yoke assembly including a lower yoke section connected to a fixed base, and an upper yoke section selectively coupled to the lower yoke section at laterally opposing points near a common horizontal plane, and being configured (a) to allow rotation of the column pre-assembly around the rotational axis, within the yoke assembly, and (b) to permit continuous weld access through the yoke assembly, to an upper weld seam on a corner of the column pre-assembly, while supporting the beam structure on three sides. 